We kick off a new series of interviews from my time at the Cable Tec-Expo Show in Philadelphia. Hanno Narjus, the SVP of Video and Broadband Solutions at Teleste, joins us to discuss innovation efforts from the European to the U.S market.

Due to COVID-19, many of us missed out on various events. It was great to experience the high energy levels at the expo as everyone was finally in 3D. Seeing cable products coming to life, especially around 10G, brought excitement to everyone in attendance.

Hanno is based out of Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki has an excellent reputation as a hub of European innovation, specifically through the impact of companies like Nokia. When Nokia shut down, hundreds of thousands of people spread to different companies and industries across Finland. The country's innovation culture was transformed as people brought their global perspectives and experiences to various places.

As Hanno brings his innovations from Europe to the U.S, he faces many challenges. Throughout history, many of the greatest innovations have come from the U.S. While challenges exist, the cable industry's culture has bridged many gaps. From Hanno's perspective, the U.S has a welcoming and appreciative culture around innovation and ideas. There is an open culture of sharing ideas and innovations in the cable industry, which Hanno loves. This collaborative environment is truly the secret weapon of the cable industry.

Hanno says his organization has a process of innovation while still encouraging people to think outside the box. I would argue that having an innovation process is essential. While the process is necessary, it is vital to avoid locking that process. You must constantly innovate the way you innovate, just as you innovate your business processes and services.

For those who have ideas within their organization, be passionate and patient. Believe in what you have, but don't immediately go to the top with your idea. Build a group around you who can be opinion leaders that will back you up once you gain some momentum and have created a support system. Run with it.

Hanno Narjus is the Senior Vice President of Video and Broadband Solutions at Teleste Networks. He has more than 30 years of experience in the ICT sector, including mobile communications, fixed broadband, and cable networks. Hanno has held several managerial positions in the telecommunications industry and spent ten years of his career at Nokia. He holds a Master's degree in economics from the University of Tampere in Finland.

To know more about Hanno Narjus, listen to: Hanno Narjus of Teleste on European Innovation and Nokia